Assemblymember Sandré Swanson proudly represents the vibrant East Bay communities of Oakland, Alameda, and Piedmont. An area native with deep ties to the community, Mr. Swanson was elected to his first term in the California State Assembly in 2006. Read more »
Nikki Henderson is the current Executive Director of People's Grocery. People’s Grocery is a health and wealth organization - our mission is to improve the health and economy of West Oakland through the local food system. We pursue positive community change and address social determinants of health through a food lens. We work to ensure that community self-determination plays a large part in the revitalization of low-income neighborhoods. Read more »
Earl Thomas has been with Oakland Rising since the very first campaign we ran with a daily team in 2009 out of Ella Baker Center's old office. He was a solid presence as an esteemed elder on our team…thoughtful, warm, sincere, helpful, wise, hard-working, intelligent and enthusiastic, and with a laugh that could melt the most frigid of hearts. Read more »
Blog post by: Esperanza Tervalon-Daumont, Executive Director
On Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2012 Mayor Jean Quan, gave her first State of the City speech entitled “Oakland is on the Rise” to an audience of Oakland’s community, labor, business, athletic, musical and grassroots leaders. As one of Oakland’s native daughters, the mother of a young son and the Executive Director of Oakland Rising, I listened to the State of the City pensively. Read more »
"This millionaire's tax they're talkin' about? That could electrify a generation."
That’s what Van Jones, former White House green jobs czar and founder of our partner organization Ella Baker Center for Human Rights, recently said about our Millionaire’s Tax initiative.
Malkia Cyril is the Founder and Executive Director of the Center for Media Justice (CMJ). As an award-winning organizer and communications leader, Malkia has more than 15 years experience conceiving and managing grassroots communications and media organizing initiatives. Read more »
On January 3, 2011, Kamala D. Harris was sworn in as California’s 32nd Attorney General. In representing the interests of the people of California, Attorney General Harris is committed to fighting transnational gang crime, protecting consumers from mortgage fraud and other scams, and preserving the state’s natural resources. Read more »
I'm Kopali Serna with Oakland Rising and California Calls, we represent over 23 community-based groups working together to restore the California dream. I've lived my entire life in the golden state and back when California ranked in the top 10 in education nationwide, I attended public schools K to the UC system. Today I'm concerned about the budget cuts and how they affect working families like mine. Read more »
Jakada became Ella Baker Center's Executive Director in 2007, after serving as a lead strategist and chief team member on some of Ella Baker Center's most high profile campaigns for eight years. Read more »
Bobby Seale was the co-founder of the Black Panther Party for Self Defense along with Huey P. Newton. After serving for three years in the US Air Force he returned home to Oakland, CA. He soon entered Merritt College in Oakland, California where he met Newton. It was in October 1966 when Seale and Newton created the BPP and wrote the Ten-Point Program. Read more »
Singer/songwriter Goapele broke out of Bay Area at the beginning of the last decade determined to make a difference in the world of music. Seamlessly blending genres while refusing to be limited by the “neo-soul” tag, the eloquent singer/songwriter completed her first release Closer in 2001 and never looked back. Read more »
Keith Carson was elected to the Board of Supervisors, Fifth District, in 1992, on a platform dedicated to inclusive and accessible government. The Fifth District includes the cities of Albany, Berkeley, Emeryville, Piedmont, and the West Oakland, North Oakland, Rockridge, Grand Lake, Fruitvale, and Dimond District neighborhoods. Read more »
Congresswoman Barbara Lee is a forceful and progressive voice in Congress, dedicated to social and economic justice, international peace, and civil and human rights. Read more »
M.C. Hammer is considered a "forefather" and innovator of pop rap, and is the first hip-hop artist to achieve diamond status for an album. BET ranked Hammer as the #7 "Best Dancer Of All Time”. Vibe's "The Best Rapper Ever Tournament" declared him the 17th favorite of all-time during the first round. Hammer is also known for his hit records, including "U Can't Touch This", flamboyant dance movements and trademark Hammer pants. Read more »
Angela Y. Davis is known internationally for her ongoing work to combat all forms of oppression in the U.S. and abroad. Over the years she has been active as a student, teacher, writer, scholar, and activist/organizer. She is a living witness to the historical struggles of the contemporary era. Read more »
Little Bobby Hutton was the first to join the newly formed Black Panther Party for Self Defense. He was only 16 years old when he joined but already believed in the ideals that Seale and Newton had outlined in the Ten-Point Program; he was dedicated to serving his community. Read more »
Today Ericka Huggins is a professor of Women’s Studies at CSU, East Bay. Her political career got its early start in Los Angeles with the Black Panther Party. Read more »
Although, never officially a Black Panther member, Tolbert Small was the official physician to Oakland’s chapter of the Black Panther Party. Read more »
Dezie Woods-Jones was the first Black woman Vice Mayor of Oakland and also served as an Oakland city council member. Currently, Dezie Woods-Jones is the State President for Black Woman Organized for Political Action (BWOPA), an organization she founded. Today BWOPA is considered to be one of the most politically influential organizations in the nation.
To learn more about Dezie Woods-Jones visit the following website:http://www.bwopa.org/Hx.htm
